A man accused of committing a string of sexual offences involving young girls - including rape, inciting them to take part in sexual activity and send him intimate photographs of themselves - has appeared in court.

Grant Hopkins, 20, of Brinsop Crescent, Yeovil, was charged with the rape of a girl aged under 13 between September 1 and 30, 2015 when he appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates.

He was also charged that between November 1 and December 31, 2016 at Yeovil, he intentionally caused a child aged 13 to look at an image of a person engaging in a sexual activity.

He was further alleged between July 21, 2015 and April 25, 2016 to have intentionally incited a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, namely asked her to send intimate images of herself to him.